Abstract

This study examines fathers' use of family leave in Britain and the US. Using data from interviews with 83 working fathers in Britain and the United States, we find that almost all fathers take some leave, but British fathers take more leave on average while American fathers demonstrate a wider range of leave time. Much of this has to do with the national context within which these men experience becoming a father. British fathers commonly took one week of paid leave, a taken for granted benefit. Most American fathers, faced with unpaid leave, used vacation days to take time off around the birth of their child. In some cases, it was unclear how leave was counted. Other themes include difficulties with "family unfriendly" employers and the desire for more time off and better leave policies.